Nepal Quake: “Now what?”

Dear Kidstown Friends,

Most of us cannot identify with a natural disaster which literally and figuratively rocks our entire world. It’s likely that most Nepalis, before last Saturday, didn’t either. But today they woke up once again to the grim reality of what was, and now what is. The question that surely looms in their mind’s eye is: now what? Now what?

Nepal, this beautiful and somewhat romanticized Himalayan country, has more than its share of struggles. A civil war that tore the nation to shreds, and from which it has yet to recover. Ongoing political infighting. Economic stagnation. Widespread poverty. Harsh living conditions and high mortality rates among children in outlying areas. An underdeveloped infrastructure, including roads, medical facilities, and communication. Not to mention the laundry list of social needs: child trafficking, abandoned & destitute children, prevalent sickness caused by contaminated water, and literal starvation in some of the remote mountain regions of the far West. Add to this social, political, and economic melee the hopelessness experinced by most Nepalis due to the widely embraced Hindu worldview and one can see why a 7.8 earthquake can (in almost a realistic sense) be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

According to BBC, the latest figures are over 5,500 dead, 11,000 injured, 70,000 homes destroyed, and 8 million affected (this means that almost 30% of Nepal’s population has been impacted by this quake). These numbers are significant, especially when placed into the context of Nepal’s already-challenging existence.

So, what do we do with all of this? Is there a way that we can help Nepal during this time, or will we just raise our eyebrows, shake our heads, and move on to reading the next news article? From our vantage point, I would encourage us to do (continue to do) the following:

1. PRAY – This is the greatest way we can help Nepal. God is there already: in Kathmandu, under the rubble, in the remote villages which have yet to see a rescue vehicle, with the children who have lost a parent, with the family which has lost their home. God is there: actively working FOR the Nepali people, endeavoring to bring them practical help and hope through the compassion of others. God is there: actively working IN the Nepali people, urging them to ask the right questions that ultimately will lead them to Him, the source of hope and true life. God is there: actively working THROUGH the Nepali people that are called by His Name – sending them out as His ambassadors of love, care, and concern to those who are at the end of their rope. Back to us: since God is there, why not join Him in what He is already doing? When we pray, we do just that, and our prayers increase His involvement on behalf of the Nepali people.

2. GIVE – Helping others in practical ways is a way to substantiate our concern. Its a long way to Nepal and chances are if you did fly over there you’d probably get stuck in holding pattern over the airport due to the logjam of planes on the ground. But, we have an infrastructure of people already on the ground. People that are already engaged in helping some of the neediest of Nepal’s people: its orphans. We are committed to supporting and helping those particular endeavors and now, in the wake of this earthquake, surely these orphanages will need a helping hand to get up & get going again. We have not yet received in-depth damage assessments from the orphanages, but as the dust settles a bit we hope to. Having some financial resources in the wings, however, will enable us to respond quickly when the needs to become apparent. Will you join us in this? For those who have already done so, many thanks.

If you would like to give: www.kidstown.org/donate. Please designate “Nepal earthquake”.

On a GREAT note: this morning I received word in regards to the last and final orphanage, and according to our regional director “the kids are absolutely well”. This means that of our seven orphanages in the quake zone, ALL seven (except for some structural damage to the facilities) came through the earthquake unscathed! No kids were injured, no leaders were injured! Thank you, Lord.

So, to all the Kidstown family: thanks for your great concern for Nepal and our orphanages. Thanks for praying. Thanks for giving. Thanks for being a family to our family in Nepal.